Rebecca has been working at FFI since September 2007. Though she studied conservation in her BA and MSc, she decided that the life in the jungle just wasn't for her. Having grown up in New York City, she has experienced more pigeons and squirrels than parrots and spider monkeys. So she decided to write about the impact that FFI's projects have on the ground.
Her current role as Communications Officer (Business & Biodiversity) has allowed her to focus her energy towards FFI's innovative Business & Biodiversity Programme. Rebecca helps to get the message out about FFI's strategic corporate partnerships and what they have helped to achieve for global biodiversity.
On 14th April, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Yushu County, in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province causing devastating damage.
FFI has a large-scale project operating at three sites in the region and our teams have been working with our local partners to determine the situation. The three FFI Community Grassland Project sites in Yushu County have all been badly affected by the earthquake, homes were destroyed and many local herders were injured.
By the 15th April, FFI’s team leader Zhaxi Wengxiu (pictured) had reached Yushu County and along with partners from the neighbouring Shiqu County delivered medicine, food and equipment to assist people who live in the earthquake affected project sites.
He said that the Marong Communities seemed to be the most affected with 27 families having lost their homes and lost family members.
Local NGOs in Qinghai and Sichuan Province have been organised and have establish an alliance to survey the area and determine the priority needs of the local communities. FFI will take this information and focus our work on rescuing people in communities that are within our project sites.
The main aim for the team in the short-term is to continue to liaise with partners on the ground and support them and the local communities. Emergency fundraising is crucial for rescue materials and equipment. In the longer-term the FFI team will work with locals to ensure that the recovery process causes as little damage to the local environment as possible.
FFI’s work on the Tibetan Plateau is generously funded by the UK’s Big Lottery Fund and Anglo American.
Photo credits: Dr Stephen Browne / FFI
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